Coming Soon: "Murphy's Traverse"

by J. C. Conway

My new short science fiction story, “Murphy’s Traverse,” has been accepted for publication  in the speculative fiction magazine, The Colored Lens, this month. The Colored Lens is edited by Dawn Lloyd and Daniel Scott and published by Light Spring LLC.

“Murphy’s Traverse” is the tale of a colony starship engineer named Murphy, and the events between here and his final, unexpected destination that prove the law that bears his name.

The Colored Lens describes the goal of speculative fiction as examining the real world “through the lens of the imaginary. By considering what could be, we gain a better understanding of what is.”

The Colored Lens strives to do exactly that. By publishing four to five short stories and serialized novellas a quarter in genres ranging from fantasy, to science fiction, to slipstream or magical realism, it hopes to help its readers see the world just a bit differently than before they came to its website or downloaded its magazine.

It also publishes non-fiction articles meant to broaden our perspectives and perceptions of the world around us and author interviews of writers whose books its editors and staff have particularly enjoyed and would like to bring to their readers’ attention. 

In Vino Veritas Released

Thirteen Press has now released the short story anthology In Vino Veritas, presently available at Lulu.com in eBook format for $5.09, or as a paperback for $14.68.

When people drink, all sorts of things happen… it brings out something in them, something that has been concealed: they develop a mood anywhere between happy and murderous. Within those two end pieces lies a range of emotions and actions which the talented Thirteen Press authors have explored in great detail in this exciting and fascinating anthology, guaranteed to make you reach for a bottle of something, beer, wine or spirits. Enjoy!

The stories all involve a drink in one fashion or another. In Vino Veritas includes three of my short stories, including the never-before-published story, “Medicinal Need.”

• “Medicinal Need” is a new western tale about a seriously-injured young cowboy on a cattle drive and the medicinal bourbon offered by the trail boss to save the cow hand’s life. This story is my first short western.
• “Another Wrong World” is the quick, amusing tale of a forlorn star pilot that must share his woes in exchange for a stiff Rigelian Rye on the house, first published in Issue 23 of Indigo Rising Magazine. 
• “Early Retirement” is the first person story of a forlorn astro-surveyor who learns something terrible about the fate of the world and his company’s role in that fate. The story begins as he encounters a gregarious problem-solver in an asteroid bar. It was first published in Static Movement.

Hugo Eligible Short Stories

2012 Worldcon Chairs Photo Shoot (Photo credit: KevinStandlee)

It is Hugo Award nomination time again–this time for the best work in Science Fiction and Fantasy for the year 2013. The Hugo Awards are presented by the World Science Fiction Society, which is comprised of writers and fans and also hosts the World Science Fiction Convention every year. To be a member of the World Science Fiction Society, a person need only purchase membership in the World Science Fiction Convention for a given year. This year’s convention will be Loncon 3 in London, England. There are different levels of membership, some cheaper and which do not involve physical presence at the convention. I, for example, have been a Supporting Member for both of the past two, which grants full Hugo Award voting rights.
WSFS members are permitted to nominate more than one piece per category. I encourage you to nominate as many 2013 short stories as you believe deserve the honor. Last year there was a shortage of short stories nominated, and so there were fewer from which to select for the final ballots.
Two of my short stories in 2013 worth considering are "Worlds Less Traveled" and "Life, Death and Overlapping Bosonic Singularities." The former was published July 12, 2013 by Perihelion Science Fiction (and is now readable at my site), and the latter was published April 7, 2013 by The Lorelei Signal, and then later in 2013 in Mystic Signals.
Regardless of whether you nominate either, please consider reviewing the 2013 short stories available and participating in the process.

Related articles

• Announcing the 2013 Hugo Award Winners
• 'Saga' wins 2013 Hugo Award
• Great Science Fiction Resources
• The Hugo awards: 'beauty contest' or prize of the people?
• Your Role at WorldCon - Bigger Than You Think

Open Calls at Static Movement

Attention Writers

For those unfamiliar with Static Movement, it is a “for the love” (no pay, only exposure) publisher of short stories, including a monthly online magazine and numerous themed print anthologies. Static Movement is now revamping its “to print” methods, with anthologies appearing now through CreateSpace and Amazon. Static Movement is looking for quality stories that fit its themes. Reprints are accepted. Anthologies go to editing and then to print when the 70,000 word count is reached or surpassed.

Open Anthologies

The Static Movement Anthologies I’m aware of that are presently accepting stories are: 

• Alicorns and Hooves
• The Badlands
• Bloody Ghost Stories: An Anthology of Dark Supernatural Demise
• Changelings
• Colors
• Demonology
• Dragon Blood
• Gifted 
• Gypsies and Giants
• Halloween Shrieks
• Hardboiled
• Here Be Clowns II 
• Incense and Perfume
• Legends and Lore
• Love at First Bite
• Magickally Delicious 
• Modern Lovecraft
• Neon and Blood
• Retellings – YA
• Shape Shifters
• Sweet Dreams and Night Terrors
• The Undead War
• Undercurrents of Fear
• Visions Across 20 Light Years
• Werewolf versus Vampire

The abridged themes for each of those, as described by the Static Movement editors are:

Alicorns and Hooves edited by Brianna Stoddard

Unicorns: tame, wild, or otherwise. Make them blue or green or rainbow if you like. Try weaving in some extra creativity into the old tales and descriptions. I would like everything to be rooted firmly in fantasy and dark fantasy. Think of this one as a young adult collection, which shouldn't have sex or foul language, but not too tame.

     Alicorns and Hooves is at about 6 stories. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

The Badlands edited by John Thompson

Weird western stories—stories have to be in a western setting (around 1840-1910), with correct historical information. They can include anything … vampire gunslingers, gangs of undead stage robbers, shape-shifters, were-wolf miners who migrated west to avoid detection, or just an old fashioned noir western with a weird slant.

     The Badlands is at about 51,113 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Bloody Ghost Stories: An Anthology of Dark Supernatural Demise edited by Brianna Stoddard

Give me all your extreme horror ghost stories, featuring Dark Supernatural Demise. I want to see what you can weave out of a ghost story with ill-fated encounters with humans. Picture the classics (Poltergiest, Haunting in Connecticut, etc.) with a bloody not-happily-ever-after ending.

     Bloody Ghost Stories is at about 27 stories. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. 

Changelings edited by George Wilhite

I am interested in variations on this legend. If you want to stick with fairies, trolls or elves, that is okay, but I would also like some original “legendary creatures” of your own design. Any genre, time period or setting works. I prefer dark tales but straight fantasy is fine as long as there is some kind of twist.

     Changelings is at about 39,000 words.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. 

Colors edited by Jake Johnson

I’m looking for flash fiction and poetry based on colors. These colors can be either be vital parts of the stories they’re telling or just act as themes in the background. Be creative! Each story has to be named after the color it represents, and there can only be one story for each color.

     Taken colors: Albedo, Amber, Aqua, Aquamarine, AuroMetalSaurus, Beige, Black, Blonde, Crimson, Cyan, Dark Lavender, Ebony, Gold, Goldenrod, Gray, Green, Maroon, Midnight Blue, Orange, Pearl, Periwinkle, PINK, Red, Ruby, Rust Red, Sand, Sangria Red, Scarlet, Silver, Sinopia, Tiramasu, Turquoise, Violet, White, Yellow, Zaffre. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Demonology edited by Dean M. Drinkel

I'm looking for original stories about Demons. Very best work please - and please be original with your story-telling (not interested in standard / usual demon-type tales); horror / dark fantasy preferred. Stories can be set anywhere and at any point in history (would love to have some medieval tales particularly).

     CLICKHERE FOR MORE INFO. 

Dragon Blood edited by Dorothy Davies

Are dragons monsters, or do they have a reputation they do not deserve? What are you dragon thoughts? Sad stories, funny stories, dark and light, send me your dragon related tales, see if we can get another first class Static Movement anthology out in the world!

     Dragon Blood is at around 60,026 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. 

Gifted edited by Danielle Rose

The idea of having powers crosses everyone’s mind. How would the world be? What powers would you have? Could you fly? See the future? Or would you simply be immortal? Does everyone have powers or are only a few blessed? Is it even a blessing?

     Gifted is at around 72,750 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Gypsies and Giants edited by Adam Francis Smith

Stories with gypsies or giants—both need not appear, but both may. I’d like to see stories spanning the genres, with, for example: magic-wielding gypsies, ancient giant creatures such as dinosaurs, space-faring gypsies, giant planets … Anything goes, really – surprise me with your creativity.

     Gypsies and Giants is at 13,276 words. CLICK HEREFOR MORE INFO.

Halloween Shrieks edited by Dorothy Davies

Explore all the aspects of Halloween, no holds barred!

     Halloween Shrieks is at about 43,151 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. 

Hardboiled edited by John Thompson

Grab your brass knuckles, your grandpa’s sawed-off scattergun and enter the fray. I’m looking for killer looking (or not) dames that do some damage and killing, bank robberies gone bad, bad or good guys getting theirs the hard way and can be old school or modern settings. Make it tight, dark and ‘Hardboiled’.

     Hardboiled is at about 77,652 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Here Be Clowns II edited by Dorothy Davies

What goes on under the paint and wig, what is the wild costume hiding, what secrets does a clown hold? Send dark, dark tales of clowns on the rampage, committing mayhem and murder and all manner of unearthly and horrible deeds—let's add to the world's paranoia of clowns!

     Here Be Clowns II is at about 38,710 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Incense and Perfume edited by Chris Bartholomew

I want some really amazing, awe-inspiring stories. Give me the cream of the crop. Most genres. Use as much truth as you can. There are many wonderful resources out there full of knowledge waiting for you. See what you can come up with... Maybe you'll find something I don't know yet.

     Incense and Perfume is at about 15,443 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Love at First Bite edited by Danielle Rose

Forbidden Attraction. Eternal love. The lure of this ecstatic pleasure is undeniable. Will the road to love be facile? Or will it prove to be the hardest path your character has ever taken? I’m not too picky about the overall idea (as long as it’s speculative in nature), but eventually, leave your readers with one question: Is love really all you’ll ever need?

     CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. 

Legends and Lore edited by Dorothy Davies

Monsters... Not run of the mill vamps and zombies—think Japanese, German, Early North American Aboriginals, African, many more! Obscure forgotten lore. They don’t have to be in their own time period; I don't care who lives or dies; but... they must be factual according to their lore.

     Legends and Lore is ataround 59,294 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. 

Magickally Delicious edited by Brianna Stoddard

Erotic stories (adults only) with elements of fantasy or dark fantasy—strictly lesbian and bisexual female stories, so little to no male contact is required. Anything other than that I am willing to work with. Surprise me! Tease me with wild female fantasy! I look forward to reading them all!

     Magickally Delicious is at about 18 stories. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Modern Lovecraft edited by Jake Johnson

Right now, the stars could be right. Right now, something with too many teeth is crashing to Earth. Right now, a man with an ancient book is summoning something that could end the world. What sanity-blasting things lurk in our everyday lives? What would H.P. Lovecraft have written about if he were alive today?

     CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Neon and Blood edited by Ron Koppelberger

I would like stories set in the big city. Monsters and demons in the midst of the crowd, the busy streets of a bustling city. You may use any sort of monster you like just as long as it is frightening. Elements of modern society are welcome, leather, studs tattoos etc…..not required but encouraged.

     Neon and Blood is at about 33,602 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Retellings edited by Rachel Towns

Think of the old stories like ‘Red Riding Hood’ and ‘Bluebeard’—make them your own. This could mean changing the time period, the location, or even changing the focus character—whatever interesting idea you have. Any genre is acceptable. 

     Retellings was opened this summer and is at about 8,600 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.   

Shape Shifters edited by Ron Koppelberger

What is a shape shifter? Is it a monster or are the changes subtle tricks of light; smoke and mirrors or demons from the darkest pits of hell? Describe the changes a shape shifter goes through, what are they like—emotional beings or dark spirits seeking revenge, relationships or just looking to blend in with our human society.

     Shape Shifters is a new anthology and is at about 3,463 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Sweet Dreams and Night Terrors edited by Ron Koppelberger

I would like to see stories set in the dream world. The stories can be the sweetest of dreams (No erotica) or the worst night terrors. These stories can be based on dreams you’ve had or heard about. Let us know what scares you or thrills you in the dream world. Poetry welcome as well!

     Sweet Dreams and Night Terrors is at about 41,286 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

The Undead War edited by John Thompson

Show me compelling stories about the survivors and their normal everyday living and their dealings with the living dead. Show me unique settings and characters. How did the zombie apocalypse happen? How do the survivors cope? What about weapons? Is the Government still functional or are they all Undead? Is there a ’safe haven’? The potential story-lines are endless. Let’s keep them near future or past.

     The Undead War is at about 45,105 words. CLICKHERE FOR MORE INFO.

Undercurrents of Fear edited by Ron Koppelberger

Fears, phobias and frightening occurrences of terror—I would like your best story about fear, psychological, mythological, horrific, monsters are good. Let me know what fear is to the lead in the story, what they feel, see, hear when confronted by things going bump in the night. If your lead is afraid of apples, tell a frightening story about apples.

     Undercurrent of Fear is at about 24,323 words. CLICKHERE FOR MORE INFO.

Visions Across 20 Light Years edited by Chris Bartholomew

In September of 2010 scientists made a long awaited announcement. Orbiting a red dwarf star about 20 light years, is Gliese 581g, the first planet we detected within its star’s habitable zone. I would like Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller/Adventure stories that explore this wondrous discovery—civilizations that develop, the people that would live there, whether other species study the indigenous life forms …

     Visions Across 20 Light Years is at about 38,669 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Werewolf versus Vampire edited by Brianna Stoddard

I want all kinds of stories focusing on the dark and damned side of these creatures. Don't think too much like "Underworld", that's too tame for this. Think of battling clans with hatred for each other as well as themselves. Try to come up with some really raw, edgy, even noir-type stuff. Give me anything you got! 1,000 to 5,000 word limit.

     Werewolf versus Vampire is at about 25,420 words. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

Excerpt: November Elf

this is a key excerpt from “November Elf.” The setting is a typical business-district downtown street in a major city. Up to this point, the story has been a traditional first-person past tense. But memory, especially with this character, is a tricky thing. And at his age it’s just beginning. Still, if the encounter is what he believes it to be, this portion of the story conveys, as well as I could capture it, the confusion that should accompany the experience. If it is at all intriguing, please visitHogglepot and read the story.

I felt a light tingle in my temples. Was he erasing my memory? “Hey, wait a minute!” I yanked the glasses from the bridge of my nose.
“You’ve had trouble remembering,” he said.
“Well yes, but—”
“Then it’s a fair trade,” he said. “You’ve been most kind. Thank you.”
“What trade?”
He stared back pleasantly. A bus arrived. Its door opened with a whoosh and a clunk.
“Third Street,” said the driver.
I shook my head. The door hissed closed and a cloud of diesel followed the bus away. I checked the time on my cell. If I didn’t get moving, the commute would be torture.
I don’t recall why I sat at the bus stop that day, but the moment is vivid in my memory.

There is more leading up to this point, of course, and a little more that folllows. The narrative has been described as light and “breezy,” although the story itself is anything but.

"Procyon Descent": a Grim Future Tale of Hope

The idea that colonists from Earth will traverse the gulf between stars in generation ships to finally claim a new world is not new. But the backdrop is still rich with possibilities. Hardship will abound. "Procyon Descent" makes us wonder whether we today could fairly judge the actions of those that ultimately endure the traverse. Some find the story shocking, depressing or grim. I don't see it that way, but those things are there in a "Lord of the Flies" sort-of way. But I also see, at its core, sacrifice, determination and a ray of hope. Farther Stars Than These, edited by E.S. Wynn, agreed to publish the story story, and it has been well received. Of course, you can decide for yourself if the short tale is worth telling. It begins like this:

The day comes too soon. I work up the length of the crop terrace. My waist-high row is lined with scrawny beets sucking what they can from the muck of the nutrient stream. Across is a row of an old Earth grain called barley, followed by eight rows of sheet fungus and more rows of stuff we call food, lining the curved floor that turns up and out of sight behind the matching curved ceiling. It wraps around back to here, everything pressed to the floor by the spin of the ship that's been groaning under the strain for over 800 years. Or so it's told.
The lights wink.
"He's early," I complain.
Megan, two rows over, slows her gray-water flow to a trickle. "Just seems."
I gawk a moment, seeking her eye, just to confirm someone shares this feeling of being rushed. I see it's so. But it doesn't help.

You can see the rest of the story at Farther Stars Than These. For a list of all my stories online check here.

New Story: Silence of the Imbeciles

"Silence of the Imbeciles" appears now in Residential Aliens, edited by Lyn Perry. The story has been described as "very well written, understated and poignant." It follows the point of view of 14-year-old Frankie Turnbull, who is fascinated with making magic wands and is attempting to deal with the consequences of every person he knows being an imbecile.

His father’s voice boomed from the shed door. “What are you doing out here?”
Carving knife in hand, Frankie Turnbull flinched. The blade sliced into the flesh of his finger.
Ouch!
He dropped the knife and flapped his hand once. “Nothing! Okay?”
Like the blade, his response was too sharp. He knew better. But he spoke without thinking. He needed time to fix a very serious problem, and nobody was giving it to him.
Anthony Turnbull cleared his throat, telegraphing to Frankie the shallow depth of the ice upon which he’d just placed himself.
“Sorry,” he said, turning.
His father’s bulky frame filled the doorway, silhouetted by the late-afternoon sun. He crossed his arms.
Frankie’s hair tingled. “I’m almost done,” he pleaded. But it was pointless to argue with the man. He was stubborn, he could throw Frankie a country mile, and he was an imbecile.
Imbecility was the biggest problem. That was Frankie’s fault. It was the problem he wanted to fix...

(See the full story at ResAliens.)

Residential Aliens is an online magazine of spiritually infused speculative fiction presenting engaging stories that are truthful to the human experience while offering something of the eternal. The October/November issue includes two speculative stories (including Silence of the Imbeciles), followed by two science fiction pieces, and wraps up with a post-zombie-apocalypse novelette.

For a list and information about all of my stories click here.

New Story: Bingham's Deep Woods Fairies

My short fantasy story, Bingham’s Deep Woods Fairies, is now published at The Lorelei Signal. A young girl determined to find real fairies goes hunting on a very special day. 

I wasn’t lost. Well, not exactly. But the chilly wind meant it would be dark soon, so I stopped to get my bearings.All trees, no cabin.Maybe I got turned around when I climbed the white rocks. But it had to be close. I was totally, absolutely sure of it. But which direction? …

Artwork by Holly Eddy

The Lorelei Signal, edited by Carol Hightshoe, is a quarterly web-based magazine dedicated to featuring strong female characters in fantasy short stories. “Females in the story should have the same strength of character as their male counterparts and not be there as window dressing.” The title of the magazine was taken from the Animated Star Trek episode in which Lt. Uhura had to take command of the Enterprise after the men fell under a siren song.

The Lorelei Signal is free to read, but it pays its authors up front and asks for donations to cover the cost of the publication and pays 75% of all donations above the initial author payments to its artists and writers per issue. The remaining 25% covers goes toward operating expenses. If you enjoy a story or the entire issue, please consider donating. The Lorelei Signal asks (but does not require) that donations be at least $1.00. PayPal charges the magazine $0.30 for each transaction.

Excerpt from "Early Retirement"

"Early Retirement" was published by Static Movement in April 2012. It's a story about a big problem--really big.

I met Philip Dawson at Buster's Tavern--a dive asteroid bar in a Trojan orbit. We had nothing in common. He was huge, gregarious, and didn't know the world was about to end--nothing in common at all.
The place had a quarter-G spin--enough to serve open-glass drinks--and Philip moved with surprising grace, talking to everyone and anyone.
"The tougher the problem, the simpler the solution," he said to a local asteroid miner...

Static Movement is an ezine and imprint for print books. On staff at this time there are 12 editors and one illustrator. Static Movement has 25 published books, 27 anthologies taking submissions, and 5 years of ezine publication.

To see all my available publications, click here. 

Excerpt from "Separation Anxiety" at NewMyths.com

This is a short excerpt from my science-fiction short story, "Separation Anxiety," published last month by NewMyths.com, edited by Scott T. Barnes. It is a tale of judicial concern in a very near quantum future.

...Judge Bell drew a breath. "It is hereby ordered, adjudged and decreed that you, Claude Ram Harper and Clarissa Marie Harper, hereby are and forever shall be irrevocably and permanently separated."
The Clerk touched the panel. The mass of coiled machinery that replaced most of the traditional ceiling, roared to life. Intricate mechanisms shifted. Coolant manifolds hissed. The Event Chamber thrummed and the Quantum Amplifier glowed. The machine bathed the Harpers in bright magenta.
The Harpers glared at each other, less than a half meter apart, as an incorporeal cone surrounded them.
Judge Bell leaned forward. He would see their true colors in a moment. But maybe this time he could remain impartial. If he did not pick, wouldn't that break his streak?
The pitch increased...

In its first four years, NewMyths.com has published over 100 new and confirmed writers, poets, academics and artists (the ‘creators’) who share a love of speculative fiction. Going forward, NewMyths’ goal is to build bridges between the creators and the readers to forge the future of speculative fiction together. The full story can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/newmyths.com/nmwebsite/fiction/separation-anxiety.

To see all of my available published stories, click here.

Excerpt from "Gentle Push" at Mindflights

This is an excerpt from "Gentle Push," my science fiction story published in the September release of Mindflights:

I encountered the leading edge of retreating human vessels 20 light hours from Delta Pavonis—a steady column bound for Earth, where they believed we could protect them. My mission would determine if that faith was justified, and if so, for how long. 

As I skirted the system's rocky halo, I spotted the small starship drifting quietly in the mid-outer dust cloud—a tug with strong field generators fore and aft. It was not preparing to flee. I looked closer. Its artificial environment was intact. Its engines were functional. It had a single human occupant, alive and well as far as I could tell. 

I hailed it. “Do you require assistance?” 

It responded abruptly: “Leave me alone.”

Mindflights, is a magazine of fantasy and science fiction that is the result of the merger of two award-winning magazines: Dragons, Knights, & Angels and The Sword Review. It strives to provide quality speculative fiction and poetry that respects traditional values.

For all of my available published stories, click here.

Excerpt: The Bender Beamer

Following is the beginning of my short science fiction story, "The Bender Beamer," published by Larks Fiction Magazine, May 13, 2012:

The world ends twice a day; three times on Sunday.

Junior Bender wanted to believe it. It was the closest thing to advice his father had ever provided. But all it meant was nothing is carved in stone—fresh starts happen every day.

He could use a new start now.

Junior sat on his hands to avoid fidgeting behind his broad mahogany desk. His CEO nameplate evidenced his powerful position in the world's fastest rising business. But he did not call the shots. Junior didn't even earn his position, he inherited it. 

He cleared his throat. "The government has offered to buy."

Junior's CFO, and his father's former right-hand man, Henry Orwill, belted a cynical chuckle. "Too bad for them."

Junior's gut tightened. Junior longed to deal man-to-man with Orwill, but he still felt like a child to "Uncle Hank."

"They're offering a lot," said Junior, seeking a deeper discussion.

"If we sell now, it wouldn't be to our advantage."

Junior pressed. "They won't give up. We're a monopoly. We're crushing the world's transportation industry. If we don't sell, I'm afraid they'll just take it."

"Listen," said Orwill, standing, "if we sell now, we'll be out of the picture for good. We don't want that."

"But—"

"Are you going to sign those papers?" he asked as he left, pointing to today's stack.

Junior nodded, sighing.

Quiet fell. What was wrong with the government offer? What better result did Orwill have in mind?...

Larks Fiction Magazine, edited by Daniel Pool, is a free online literary magazine for up-and-coming writers. It publishes fiction, poetry and non-fiction of all shapes and sizes, with a leaning toward magical realism, science fiction, fantasy and quirky and experimental work. It also publishes music videos, short films, art and dramas. You can learn more about it at: http://larksfictionmagazine.blogspot.com/.

Excerpt: Time, Heat and a Smoking Ember

This is from my romance short story published at Daily Love on May 10, 2012:

…She stepped to the sidewalk and enjoyed the evening air. It was a great town and everything was going just fine. She would tell him that. It was none of his business whether she'd had a date in ages, and really none of hers whether he had either. It was odd how their phone conversation this afternoon felt like no time had passed since graduation. The only real change she sensed was a calmer tone. He didn't sound today like he was talking through a cocky smirk.

"You look ... amazing."

Gina spun. Oh my.

Where she expected a cute, smart-mouthed college student with disheveled hair, she saw a well-dressed, confident man—Nathan as she would have ordered him, had she thought it possible.

She drew a breath. "Thank you," she managed…

The entire story is available at http://www.dailylove.net/2012/05/51012.html.

Daily Love, edited by E. S. Wynn, publishes new tales of romance and love of varying sizes and styles on a daily basis. It provides a platform for both new and established authors to reach readers based solely on the merit of each individual piece of writing and not on deadlines, reputation, age or any other factor.